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SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA – JULY 04: Lance Stroll of Canada driving the (18) Racing Point RP20 Mercedes in the pit lane during final practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on July 04, 2020 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)
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SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA – JULY 04: Lance Stroll of Canada driving the (18) Racing Point RP20 Mercedes in the pit lane during final practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on July 04, 2020 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)
Despite losing a major protest, 15 points, and close to half a million Euros, Racing Point Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer still sees the positive side of things.
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Szafnauer expressed satisfaction at the team not having to change its car, including the highly contested brake ducts.
The biggest takeaway from the FIA’s verdict on Renault’s protest was its clarification on Racing Point’s brake ducts. Simply put, the team can continue using its components as before and isn’t illegal.
Furthermore, Racing Point didn’t actually breach any technical regulations, thus escaping a potential DQ.
“The good news from the judgment was that the car is completely legal from a technical perspective,” said Otmar to Sky Sports F1, as quoted by Motorsport.com.
“So we can continue to run the brake ducts.
“It’s just a matter of process which is in the sporting regulations. We read the sporting regulations, there is nothing specific in there which says we couldn’t do what we did.
“Other teams have done exactly the same, probably even more than what we did in a way. It’s a bit bewildering. However, we now have to decide whether our punishment is one that we should appeal.
“But like I said, the good news is we can continue to run this car as it is here, and thereafter, and it’s legal.”
The reason behind all the confusion over Racing Point’s brake ducts is due to F1 not recognizing the same as listed parts in 2020.
For those unaware, Racing Point received the aforementioned part from Mercedes in 2019, when it was still a listed part. Szafnauer added that Racing Point supported the idea of moving the part in question from a listed to non-listed part.
“I was there in the strategy group meeting when we voted for this. I supported this, going from a non-listed part to a listed part. Some teams didn’t want this to happen, others did. I think we were the swing vote.
“I supported Cyril [Abiteboul, Renault F1 team principal] wholeheartedly on this. We started this process well before the brake ducts were even contemplated moving from non-listed to listed.”
Racing Point is yet to decide on its future course of action following the FIA’s judgment.
SOURCE- Motorsport.com
